Key suspect in Mexican drug cartel leaves PH

MANILA - A key suspect linked to the shabu storage facility found on LPL Ranch in Lipa City, Batangas has left the country. Chief Inspector Roque Merdegia Jr., head of the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force Intelligence and Investigation Division, said Filipino-American Jorge Torres has left the Philippines and is back in the United States. Merdegia believes Torres helped Mexico's Sinaloa drug cartel establish its drug operations in the country. Torres reportedly leased a portion of the LPL Ranch in Batangas where more than 80 kilos of shabu were recently seized. LPL Ranch is owned by the Leviste family and some family members have been summoned by the justice department to help shed light on the case. "Kung Mexicans, wala silang idea pa sa Pilipinas kaya sila gumawa ng connection with Chinese at kay Jorge Torres, a Fil-Am. Si Jorge nakakaalam ng pasikot sikot dito sa bansa," Merdegia told ANC. He said the raid on the shabu storage facility was done after a month of surveillance. He said police received information that the drugs would be sold in Metro Manila and other provinces. Three people were arrested during the raid. The Sinaloa cartel is reputed to be the largest source of illegal drugs to the United States. Its main leader, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, escaped from a Mexican prison in 2001. He is now America's most wanted drug trafficker, as well as being considered by Forbes as the most powerful criminal on the planet. More than 77,000 people have been killed in Mexico in connection with organized crime since then-president Felipe Calderon launched a nationwide war against the cartels after taking office in 2006. With a report by Agence France-Presse ANC PRIMETIME, January 7, 2014